I was laid off last week from my IT role due to a departmental restructure aimed at cost savings. This is the first time I've experienced a layoff in my career, and I'm still processing the decision to eliminate my position. I have to remind myself that this isn't a reflection of my skills or accomplishments. As a mid-50s professional with extensive experience in IT, I'm not particularly excited about starting a job search. However, I hope that my age, which I see as wisdom, along with my broad IT background, will help me stand out during interviews. I noticed that the job market appears to be improving based on recent job numbers, so I'm optimistic that this will be a short break before I find my next role. I'm reaching out to see if anyone has had success in their application or interview process and what made a difference for them. I'm wishing everyone else in the job search process the best of luck. The fear of the unknown is definitely keeping me awake at night.